Journal of Applied and Natural Science
Not a member yet
2928 research outputs found
Sort by
Effect of seed treatments on seed germination and seedling parameters in the F2 generation of mundu chilli (Capsicum annum L.)
Get PDFGermination in chilli seeds is poor and the duration taken for the germination is long. In order to overcome their problems in germination, the seeds were to be subjected to seed treatments, So that the germination would be effective. The experiment was conducted at the Department of Vegetable Science HC & RI, Tami Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Periyakulam to study the effect of seed treatment views on the seedling character of mundu chilli. The experiment was laid in FCRD design with three replications. In this study, four F2 crosses viz., PKM CA 20 X PKM CA 08 (C1), PKM CA 32 X PKM CA 33 (C2), PKM CA 32 X PKM CA 20 (C3), PKM CA 38 X PKM CA 33 (C4) and seven treatments namely, Control (T0), Seed treatment with KNO3 0.5% (T1), Seed treatment GA3 50 ppm (T2), Seed treatment with NAA 100 ppm (T3), Hot water seed treatment at 60° C for 15 minutes (T4), Seed treatment with cow urine (T5), Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride (T6). Among all F2 crosses, PKM CA 38 X PKM CA 33 (C4) was most responsive to seed treatments in terms of the percent of seed germination and vigor index, followed by progeny PKM CA 32 X PKM CA 33 (C2) for root length and PKM CA 32 X PKM CA 20 (C3) for shoot length. The statistical analysis of the data showed the superiority of all the seed treatments over the control. The GA₃ treatment resulted in the maximum percentage of seed germination, root length, shoot length and vigor index followed by KNO3. GA3 breaks the dormancy in the seeds and induces seed germination rapidly. Thus GA3 finds its way as the seed treatment agent in chilli.
Growth dynamics and forecasting of minor millets in India: A time series analysis
Get PDFThe forecasting behaviour of millet plays a critical role in production planning at the Indian farm level. This study made an effort to forecast the area and production of small millets in India with time series analysis. The performance of the forecasting models was appraised and collated by the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Partial Autocorrelation Function (PACF) and Auto Correlation Function (ACF) criteria. For this analysis, the yearly data of the area and production of small millet from 1950 to 2021 were calculated. Among all Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models, ARIMA (0,1,0) was found to be the best fitted for forecasting the area and production of minor millets in India since, principally, this model relies on historical ideals of the sequences in addition to earlier error relations for forecasting minor millets and it does not adopt information of any fundamental model or associations as in some other approaches. The predicted values of minor millet area showed decreased trend from 422.4 thousand hectares in the year 2022 to 409.2 thousand hectares in the year 2026. Likewise, the production under small millets declined from 393.5 thousand tons to 159.5 thousand tons for the corresponding period. Hence, production of these crops can be enhanced by suitable use of inputs and timely application of inputs, high yielding varieties, government interventions like policy support, subsidising through the Public Distribution System and awareness by the way of propaganda and demonstration
An economic analysis of groundwater markets and water use efficiency in hard rock area of Hosur union Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu
Get PDFGroundwater selling is a guarantee against deficiency rains in areas where farmers do not have access to surface water irrigation. Therefore, examination of groundwater market development and the efficiency of groundwater use under different water regimes needs to be studied. The objective of the study was (a) to analyse the structure and contact of groundwater markets and (b) to estimate the cost of ground water extraction and selling price in Hosur and Kaveripatinam taluks of Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu. Based on the Primary survey, water structures were analysed using simple statistics and measured efficiency by Data Envelopment Analysis. The groundwater market structure demonstrated that the number of irrigation water buyers grows as the size of the farm decreases, while the number of irrigation water sellers grows as the size of the farm increases. The efficiency of groundwater use is estimated by data envelop analysis. According to the data, in a sample of groundwater markets, the seller-buyer concentration ratio was 1:1.13. The cropping intensity and irrigation intensity were highest (89.13 and 93.19 %, respectively) for the self-user+seller category. The selling price of groundwater (Rs. 50 per tank) was marginally higher than the total cost of water extraction (Rs. 28.27 per tank), thereby implying the exploitative nature of groundwater markets. According to findings on input consumption and landholdings, water buyers are resource-strapped farmers who are unlikely to be able to afford the large investments required to install a well
Factors influencing the performance of mechanical end effector during automatic transplanting of tomato seedlings
Get PDFA number of elements of probabilistic nature mightily influence the picking efficiency of a transplanting mechanism. There are two key factors to be considered in the development of seedling pickup devices. One is the mechanical features of the end effector, and the other is the horticultural features of the protray seedling. The investigation aimed to find the features affecting the transplanting of protray grown tomato seedlings using mechanical end-effectors. Various mechanical linkage-picking fingers were developed and tested with an experimental setup for gripping and releasing the seedling. Two different pneumatic cylinders triggered the mechanical end effector, one for holding the seedling and then ejecting the seedling from the protray. When all the seedlings were ejected from the initial line of the protray, the endless belt shifted the protray just below the end-effector mechanism. Assessments were carried out with moisture content of media (16 ±1, 18 ±1 and 21 ±1%), mechanical end-effector (sliding plate cam type, sliding end cam type and four bar type picking finger) angle of end-effector needle (6, 8 and 10 deg.) to enhance the picking, transmission and dropping with low missing as well as harms for the seedlings. The minimum value of missing seedlings (6.55 %) and maximum success rate of picking (93.45 %) were noted at 18 ±1% of the growth media moisture content (M2) and at 8 deg. angle of gripper needle (θ2) with a sliding plate cam-type picking finger (F1). The transplanting frequency was 840 seedlings h-1
Usability of monthly ERFS (Extended Range Forecast System) to predict maize yield using DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer) model over Erode District of Tamil Nadu
Get PDFExtended Range of Forecast Service (ERFS) is highly useful for planning of cropping season and midterm correction at the farm level. The medium-range and long-range forecast validation have many studies, whereas ERF has less that needs to be studied. Maize is an important field crop in India after rice and wheat. Therefore, the prediction of maize yield has significant importance. In the present study, ERFS data were validated by correlation analysis using monthly observed rainfall frequency and intensity. This data was imported to DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer) to simulate maize yield of Erode district of Tamil Nadu. The model output and actual yield data from Erode were compared. Forecasted monthly total rainfall was correlated at a rate of 0.97r value with that observed. Yield simulation of maize was done using DSSAT by integrating ERFS data and the observed monthly data. Mean per cent deviation among the yields of observed weather and the disaggregated one tended to be -15.7 %. The average deviation between the yields of ERF forecasted weather data and actual yield was very high ( -29.7 % ) for Erode. Mean % deviation between the yields of observed weather and the actual yield was -14.7 %. Downscaled and accurate weather forecasts could be facilitated for yield prediction of crops by DSSAT model. Yield prediction by the model under observed weather was convenient and usable. Model under-predicted the yields when using ERF data. Both model and ERF forecast need to be improved further for higher resolution
Protective effect of cinnamon oil against ciprofloxacin toxicity on liver and kidney of male Wistar rats
Get PDFCinnamon zeylanicum is one of many herbal medications. This herb contains different materials like, cumarin, cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid. The plant plays a role as antiallergic, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and other health conditions. This study focused on the therapeutic effect of cinnamon oil on hepatorenal toxicity induced by ciprofloxacin in male rats. Forty rats were housed in the animal house of the College of Pharmacy, University of Kerbala, Karbala city, Iraq. The animals were separated into four groups: Group 1. Control group (not taken drug nor cinnamon oil), Group 2. Ciprofloxacin group (drenched 250 mg/kg/day of ciprofloxacin for 30 days), Group 3. Cinnamon oil group (drenched 1ml/kg/day of cinnamon oil for 30 days) and Group 4. Cinnamon+ciprofloxacin group (drenched 1ml/kg/day of cinnamon + 250 mg/kg/day of ciprofloxacin for 30 days). Finally, 2ml of blood was collected from each rat and the serum was separated for estimating the biochemical parameters of the liver like, Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase(ALT) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and the kidney (Creatinine, Urea and albumin) . The results proved that ciprofloxacin significantly elevates the parameters of the liver and kidney (p≤0.05). The results also proved the benefit of cinnamon oil in improving health by reducing the toxic effect of ciprofloxacin by lowering the elevated levels of (liver enzymes, creatinine, urea and albumin). The study showed that this oil reduced the toxic effect of ciprofloxacin on the kidney and liver
A study on the feeding of shrimp larvae of Macrobrachium nipponense on algae in vitro
Get PDFExperiments were carried out for the propagation and rearing of Macrobrachium nipponense and its feeding on algae, with the aim of determining the density, survival, and growth of larvae in vitro. Hatched larvae of zoae were reared at a density of 50 zoea/L with algae mixture: Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus sp., Pediastrium sp., Microctinium sp., Navicula sp., Ulothrix sp., Cyclotella sp., Daitoma sp. at three concentrations of 0.5=A, 1.0=B, 1.5=C x 10⁵ cell/ml, and the survival % rates of zoea larvae were 45.00±5.00, 53.33±7.64, 50.00±5.00 respectively. Then, three densities: 25=A, 50=B, 75=C zoea/L were tested by feeding them with the best concentration of 1.0×10⁵ cell/ml for 10 days, with the result being survival % rates were 50.00±5.00, 51.67±7.64, 31.67±7.64, respectively. After that, stage post-larvae were reared at a density of (50=A,100=B, 150=C) Pl/pond and fed with a concentration of 1.0 x 10⁵ cell/ml of the algae mixture for 28 days, which resulted in survival % rates of 48.33±7.64, 40.00±5.00, 33.33±7.64, and this stage, weight was 50.67±2.08, 50.00±2.00, 40.33±2.52mg respectively. The results of the analysis of survival rates for different densities of zoea larvae found significant differences (P < 0.05) between density C and density of both A and B, of which there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between them. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the survival rates of zoea in different concentrations of the selected algae. Also, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the survival rates and weight rate of post-larvae when fed on algae (B)
Single nucleotide polymorphism in Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 gene as a risk for COVID-19 among Iraqi people
Get PDFAngiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) is an essential element in the renin-angiotensin RAS system and plays a key role in coronavirus entrance to the human body and attachment to the cell. Variation in ACE-2 may increase the capability of coronavirus to binding with human tissues and lead to variation in disease severity among patients. For this reason, this study aimed to take some SNPs in different COVID-19 patient cases to show the possible role of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE2) polymorphism in people that could have severe infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 by detecting different single nucleotide polymorphisms SNPs on this gene by PCR-sequencing. This cross-sectional study includes 100 diagnosed COVID-19 patients during a period between November and December 2021. The result revealed that three SNPs rs1463669655, rs746202722, and rs201035388 located on ACE-2 (GRCh38.p13) gene did not associate with the severity of COVID-19 disease because all patients have either the wildtype or the heteterotype allele as the following 0 % GG, 100 % AG, and 0% AA as the genotype distribution in severe cases, and the genotype distribution in non-severe cases was 0 % GG, 100 %AG, and 0 % AA and 100 % AA, 0 % AG, and 0% GG as the genotype distribution in severe cases, and the genotype distribution in non-severe cases was 100 % AA, 0 %AG, and 0 % GG and 100 % GG, 0 % GA, and 0% AA as the genotype distribution in severe cases, and the genotype distribution in non-severe cases was 100 % GG, 0 %GA, and 0 % AA for these three SNPs respectively. The ACE-2 angiotensin-converting enzyme gene was studied because of its active participation in the entry of the Coronavirus into the human body and its binding to alveolar cells and concluded that three SNPs rs1463669655, rs746202722, and rs201035388 located on ACE-2(GRCh38.p13) gene did not associate with the severity of COVID-19 disease
Molecular detection of extended spectrum ß-lactamase genes in Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infected patients
Get PDFExtended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) are a major source of concern. ESBL have been recorded around the world. Globally, the number of people infected with Enterobacteriaceae that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) is on the rise. It has been a rise in resistance to ß-lactam antibiotics among them. In this study, the objective was to collect Escherichia coli isolates from Urinary tract infection patients using selective medium, determine the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli, phylogenetic groupings of isolates, ESBL production, and biofilm formation among the isolates of E. coli isolates. The study included 250 E. coli samples from male and female subjects and grown on a selective medium. The isolated bacteria were submitted to different tests, including the detection of biofilm development and testing of the phylogenetic grouping of the E. coli isolate using triplex-PCR analysis. Representatives of each isolate were phenotypically evaluated for antibiotic resistance and classified into phylogenetic groupings. The results of extended-spectrum ß -lactams antibiotics showed the greatest resistance levels. There were 100% resistance rates for Ceftazidime-Clavulantae (CZC) and Cefotaxime-Clavulantae (CTC), 78.7% for Ceftazidime (CAZ), 86.7% for Cefotaxime CTX, 84% for Aztreonam (ATM), 87.3% for Ceftriaxone (CRO) and 83.3% for Cefpodoxime (CPD). E. coli isolates belonging to phylogroup B2 (91, 91%), and subtyping B23 (75, 75%) were the most common among UTI patients. ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were prevalent in individuals with UTIs. Most E. coli isolates from UTI patients at Al-Hillah hospitals belonged to phylogroup B2, followed by D, B1, and A. B2 was the most prevalent group in the study. This study examined the dissemination of ESBL genes in phylogenetic groups of the E. coli isolates from UTIs patients in the Al-Hillah, Iraq
Changes in biochemical constituents and antioxidant enzyme activity in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) by the addition of coated multi-nutrient fertilization in calcareous soil
Get PDFSulphur and micronutrients play a vital in the growth and development of plants due to their catalytic effect on many metabolic processes. A field experiment was conducted to explore the changes in various biochemical constituents and antioxidants enzyme activities in response to coated multi-nutrient fertilization. The experiment consisted of five organic acids (citric acid, humic acid, fulvic acid, salicylic acid) and amino acid (glycine) coated multi-nutrient fertilizer sources applied at five different levels (0, 5, 10, 12.5 and 15 kg ha-1). Groundnut leaf samples were collected and analyzed for biochemical constituents such as proline, soluble protein and antioxidant enzymes viz., superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and carbonic anhydrase activities at harvest stages. The results revealed that, application of fulvic acid coated multi-nutrient fertilizer at 15 kg ha-1 registered lesser proline (5.93 µmoles g-1) and higher soluble protein (22.2 mg g-1) content, superoxide dismutase (8.93 EU mg-1), catalase (18.2 µg H2O2 min-1 g˗1), peroxidase (6.11 µg min-1 mg˗1) and carbonic anhydrase (14.8 EU mg-1) activities at harvest stage followed by 12.5 kg humic acid coated multi-nutrient fertilizer. The lesser response was noted with NPK control in influencing the biochemical constituents and antioxidant enzymes. It was concluded that fulvic coated multi-nutrient fertilizer at 15 kg ha-1 was the better source for improving the biochemical constituents and antioxidant enzymes of groundnut in calcareous soils